Campeonato Brasileiro preview round 9

Flamengo have led the league for the last four rounds and have been no lower than 3rd all season.

They are also the league’s top scorers with 18 goals.

Caio Júnior’s team have beaten Santos, Internacional, and Figueirense in the estádio Maracanã but failed their first big test when São Paulo came to town in round 6 and beat Fla 4-2.

The Rio side though are favourites to see off Náutico and if they win they’ll move to 22 points.

Last year, it took Fla a staggering 21 rounds to pick up the same number of points!

Náutico looked destined for Série B for so long in 2007, but recovered in the second half of the season and finished in 15th.

But key players Acosta, Sidney and Elicarlos have moved on and Náutico were expected to struggle once again.

So far though, that has not happened and the club actually went top after round 2.

But the success cost them and coach Roberto Fernandes was lured to Atlético Paranaense. Leandro Machado is now in charge.

Náutico dropped two places after their 2-0 loss away at Palmeiras last weekend.

The Recife club have won just once away this season when they saw off Fluminense (2-0). Náutico drew at Ipatinga but have lost their last two road trips at Grêmio and Palmeiras 0-2, and they have failed to score in any of those matches.

This fixture will be another tough one for Náutico who have never beaten Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro in the Brasileiro (8 Fla wins, 1 draw).

Coach Caio Júnior is forced to make two changes from the side that won at Sport last weekend: centreback Fábio Luciano is suspended and Ibson’s loan deal from Porto is over. Dininho will make his debut after signing from Palmeiras and former Manchester United man, Kléberson should come into midfield. Náutico will have centreback Vagner available after injury. But out are regular centrebacks Negretti and Everaldo, and midfielders Ticão and Alceu. Forward Warley is doubtful.

Goal average = 2.33 – two 0x0s

Kick off: Saturday 5th July – 18:20 Brasilia

Ones to watch: Fla’s Obina

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On Sunday, we travel to the estádio Mineirão for Atlético Mineiro against Palmeiras.

After an indifferent start to the season, Atlético Mineiro are already eying the teams below them in the league.

Galo’s side haven’t won in two but they are unbeaten in their three home games in Belo Horizonte.

But that record is at great risk this weekend and coach Galo might be starting to feel a little uneasy come 6pm on Sunday.

Palmeiras will arrive in high spirits having broken into the top four for the first time last week.

Vanderlei Luxemburgo’s boys have won their last three games and interestingly, have come away with maximum points from the last three encounters against Atlético in Belo Horizonte.

However, Palmeiras’away record is a bit sketchy. They lost at Coritiba and Sport 2-0, drew with Portuguesa 1-1, but did beat Vasco 2-0.

Atlético will be without centreback Leandro Almeida who is suspended but veteran forward Marques has recovered from a muscle injury and could start. Rightback Amaral is on-loan from Palmeiras and cannot play. Palmeiras won’t have Valdivia and Kléber who are suspended. Elder Granja and Pierre are doubtful. Gustavo is injured. Young forward Lenny is set to make his first start in the Brasileiro.

Goal average = 2.1

Kick off: Saturday 6th July – 16:00 Brasilia

Ones to watch: former Brazil keeper, Marcos

Elsewhere, 2nd placed Grêmio will have to beat strugglers Botafogo without Roger who is on the verge on joining Qatar Sports Club. Corinthians still hold the player’s registration and have cashed in on the midfielder’s good run of form. This will be a real blow to Grêmio’s title ambitions as Celso Roth’s team have come to rely on Roger’s goals in recent games.

Cruzeiro have a tricky fixture away at Sport. The Recife club are difficult to beat in the estádio Ilha do Retiro but lost their 22 game unbeaten record to Flamengo last weekend.

In the estádio Morumbi, things look a little easier for São Paulo who look certain to take all three points from second from bottom club Ipatinga. However, São Paulo do occasionally underestimate the opposition so, this one may not be quite as clear cut.

And there’s an interesting match up in Goiânia as bottom four sides Goiás and Fluminense meet in the estádio Serra Dourada.

This is Flu’s first match since their defeat in the finals of the Libertadores vs Ecuador’s LDU.

Flu had clearly been relying on taking the South American competition but now have a mountain to climb if they are to finish in the top four this year. This task though, is well within their reach and it’s worth remembering that neighbours Flamengo were in the bottom four for the first half of last season but ended up finishing in 3rd. However, five losses and three draws is relegation form and if Flu lose this one, the clock will start ticking for Renato Gaúcho.